Motor sport names battle for Desert Challenge spots

DESERT CHALLENGE: Motor race promises plenty of thrills and spills across challenging desert terrain of the Empty Quarter. (Getty Images)

Months of meticulous organisation, including the mapping of a new final day, will be put to the test when the five-leg Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2009 opens with the super special stage in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Ahead of an entry of 29 cars, 34 bikes, 11 quads and two trucks lie 1,500 kilometres of what some describe as the world’s most challenging desert terrain across the emirate’s vast Empty Quarter.

According to the chairman of the Organising Committee, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is also FIA Vice President for Sport and President of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the route has been carefully planned by an experienced team, with support from the event’s title sponsor, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

He was speaking at a pre-rally press briefing attended by many of the top entries.

Sulayem confirmed that motorcycles and quads kick-start the action in reverse seeding order at the prologue session. This means that the Polish quad rider, Rafal Sonik will lead the entire entry at the two-kilometre super special stage, close to the Rally HQ at Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.

South Africa’s Sean Gaugain said that tactics are sure to come swiftly into play between the leading riders at the head of the field. Spaniard, Coma and Frenchman, Despres follow behind Sonik and are tipped as the hot favourites.

In the 450cc motorcycle category, Gaugain said that although the entry list shows fierce competition in the smaller-engine category, he is hoping to retain his crown when the event draws to a close at the ADIMSC (on March 27, Friday afternoon).

KTM UAE’s Sebastien Husseini is known to be determined to win on home sand but the likes of Romania’s Razvan Iremescu and the UAE’s Al Shamsi are capable of springing a surprise.

The final outcome of the car category could well be the closest since the event joined the FIA World Cup in 1993.

Meanwhile, local competition comes from the likes of expatriates, David Mabbs, Ian Barker and Glenn Reid, and a host of other Emirati crews who have come out to support the UAE’s premier off-road event, earmarked to further Abu Dhabi’s global reputation as a leading venue for international motorsport.

Raed Baker, Ahmad bin Soughat and Abdullah Al-Herais are just three of the potential top six runners from an impressive list UAE line-up.

In a late announcement, Emirati driver, Matar Al Mansouri said he will be partnered by local female co-driver, Rabab Al Tajir in a Nissan Patrol.

Al Tajir has taken part in several UAE national rallies with Lebanese driver, Richie Hnoein. She is the third female co-driver in the car category of the Desert Challenge.

Qatar’s Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), heads the rest of the GCC contingent in his Nissan Patrol, with Saudi Arabia’s Ibrahim Al-Muhanna and Saleh Al-Hout further bolstering the field.

The 2009 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has the backing of key players, including the event's title sponsor, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Nissan, ADNOC, Beach Rotana - Abu Dhabi, etisalat, Explorer, Hertz, Lambda Electronics, Oasis Water, TAG Heuer and the ADIMSC.

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